Hafler is a legendary name in the world of audio. As part of the brand's revival, Radial Engineering, its parent company, has announced Hafler's latest product: the HA75-DAC headphone amplifier. The headphone amplifier serves a dual purpose as a tube-based headphone amplifier and a USB digital analog-to-digital converter (DAC).
Radial has extensive background in the professional audio industry, and the amplifier is receiving praise from top recording professionals such as Alan Parsons, Chuck Ainlay and Frank Filipetti.
Legendary jazz musician Chick Corea says the hybrid design of the HA75-DAC headphone amplifier enables an easy listening experience. “The Hafler HA75 tube head produces a richer, warmer, analog quality that makes listening to music with headphones more pleasing,” says Corea.
Hafler explains the HA75-DAC builds upon the features and performance of the HA75 tube head by adding a USB DAC to provide compatibility with digital audio up to 192kHz.
Dealers can connect the HA75-DAC headphone amplifier to a computer to play high-resolution audio files, and they can also connect separate audio sources that can be selected with the unit's front panel interface.
12AX7 Tube at the Heart of Hafler's HA75-DAC Headphone Amplifier
Pointing out the sound quality that A-list musicians like Corea have lauded, Hafler says the use of a 12AX7 tube provides the tonal warmth that is pleasing for many listeners.
Hafler adds the 12AX7 tube delivers a natural compression when pushed hard, and a non-radiating charge pump is used to apply 140 volts to the tube to optimize headroom, while supporting the “vintage warmth” of the product.
Then there's the amplifier's load impedance selector. The impedance load selector can be set anywhere from 20 to 400 ohms, and it allows users to impedance match all types of headphones when using the combination headphone amp and DAC.
The company augments the impedance load selector with a three-position voicing switch that can be used to boost low frequencies, increase overall loudness or to set a bypass for a neutral voicing.
Other HA75-DAC headphone amplifier features include:
- XLR (balanced) and RCA (unbalanced) inputs
- USB digital input
- A focus control
- Analog tube output
- Front panel input selector
The Hafler HA75-DAC headphone amplifier will launch in May at an MRSP of $1,300.
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